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Cyber and Data Sciences

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RAND was at the forefront of early computing and data science. In the 1950s, we built computers to improve researchers' analytic and modeling capabilities. We also developed data communications technologies that were forerunners of the internet. Today, RAND experts recommend policies and best practices to support safe and secure technological innovation and adoption.

Cortney Weinbaum studies topics related to intelligence and cyber policy as a senior management scientist at RAND. In this interview, she discusses challenges facing the intelligence community, the risks of using AI as a solution, and ethics in scientific research.

Military members who visited a primary care clinic while suffering from PTSD and depression reported fewer symptoms and better mental health functioning a year after enrolling in a treatment program that included specially trained care managers and telephone therapy options.

Offering virtual dermatology care to Medicaid recipients can sharply increase use of dermatology services. This offers one potential way to increase access to medical specialists who are in short supply.

About a quarter of American adults reported that they were notified about their personal information being part of a data breach in the previous year, but only 11 percent of those who have ever been notified say they stopped doing business with the hacked company afterwards.

While there are financial incentives available to primary care practices that transform into medical homes, such investments might be especially challenging for small practices and those not associated with a larger health network. The costs include one-time startup costs and ongoing costs, the greatest being adding new staff to help better coordinate patients' care.

Although China continues to lag behind the United States in terms of aggregate military hardware and operational skills, it has improved its capabilities relative to those of the U.S. in many critical areas. Moreover, China does not need to catch up fully in order to challenge U.S. ability to conduct effective military operations near the Chinese mainland.

New Internet-based technology may aid criminal justice agencies through promising tools such as better criminal databases, remotely conducted trials, and electronic monitoring of parolees. But many of the developments raise issues related to civil rights, privacy, and cybersecurity that must be addressed.

Chaos in the Middle East, Russian intervention, Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, climate change, and a decline in U.S. military readiness have raised questions about how America envisions its role in a turbulent geopolitical environment. Nevertheless, the world is not falling apart and these difficulties are not beyond the United States' ability to manage.

Software tools created by the U.S. State Department to encourage the free flow of information online and on mobile phone networks are not likely to be used by criminals to pursue illegal activities. While some have the potential to be used for illicit purposes, there are numerous alternative technologies that are better suited.

While worldwide spending on cybersecurity is close to $70 billion a year and growing, many chief information security officers believe that hackers may gain the upper hand in two to five years, requiring a continual cycle of development and implementation of stronger and more innovative defensive measures.

Using tools that help physicians decide whether to use expensive imaging studies such as MRI scans can help reduce the ordering of unnecessary tests, but implementation of the tools in real-world settings has many challenges.

Patients treated for acute respiratory infections by a doctor on a telephone or live video are as likely to be prescribed an antibiotic as those treated in person. However, patients treated virtually are more often prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which is concerning because overuse of the drugs increases costs and contributes to antibiotic resistance.

Psychotherapy treatments can lag years behind what research has shown to be effective because there simply are not enough clinicians trained in new methods. But online training programs can be as successful as in-person instruction for teaching psychotherapists how to use newer evidence-based treatments.

Physician practices are engaging in new health care payment models intended to improve quality and reduce costs, but are finding that they need help with managing increasing amounts of data and figuring out how to respond to the diversity of programs and quality metrics from different payers.

Rural areas lacking a mobile phone signal (“not-spots”) experience a negative impact on businesses of all sizes, and could suffer detrimental effects to the long-term sustainability of communities. Residents and visitors would be willing to pay for better mobile coverage.

Too many studies intended to evaluate health information technology are limited by incomplete measures of value, and fail to report important details about the context and adoption of the technology. Studies that evaluate the technology over longer periods of time are needed to provide a more-robust picture of its costs and benefits to patients, health providers, and those who pay for health care.

Health information exchanges show some evidence of reducing emergency department costs and usage, but since only a few have been evaluated, there is not enough evidence to say whether or not they are on track as a potential solution to the problem of fragmented health care delivery in the U.S.

Systems that automatically read automobile license plates have the potential to save police investigative time and increase safety, but law enforcement officials must address issues related to staffing, compatibility, and privacy before the technology can reach its full potential.

The Navy has a growing demand for intelligence to help Navy vessels avoid collisions, pinpoint targets, and perform other vital tasks. But the amount of data it may collect in the future is more than it can process today. Cloud strategies offer promising options.

Researcher Spotlight

Statistical Analyst

Adam Scherling is a statistical analyst at the RAND Corporation. His interests include statistical methodology, statistical programming, interactive data visualization, and applications across the social sciences. He received his B.A. in economics from Carleton College and his M.S. in statistics…

Associate Physical Scientist

Jared Mondschein is an associate physical scientist at the RAND Corporation. His technical expertise is in renewable energy storage solutions and carbon capture technologies, having studied materials for the light-driven transformation of water and carbon dioxide into fuels and value-added…

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